Practice backstop for golfers



May 30, 1961 R. c. OLIVER PRACTICE BACKSTOP FOR GOLFERS Filed May 6, 1959 Rex 6. Oliver INVENTOR. U052.

BY g W United. States Patent PRACTICE BACKSTOP FOR GOLFERS Rex G. Oliver, Byesville, Ohio (1102 Lakeside Drive, Garner, N.C.)

Filed May 6, 1959, Ser. No. 811,464

4 Claims. or. 273-181) This invention relates to golf practicing devices and more particularly to a backstop for stopping a golf ball which is hit by any one of the conventional golf clubs.

An object of the invention is to provide a practice device for golfers enabling golfers to practice with any of the usual clubs in order to improve their game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practice device for golfers, wherein there are structural improvements and refinements over prior practice devices.

An important feature of the invention is in the flexible panel support which has the golf ball driven thereagainst. 'Ilie flexible panel is supported at the upper and lower edges only, leaving the side edges unsupported by structural members thereby eliminating all possible areas which would provide a sharp or quick rebound when the ball is struck toward and against the backstop.

Another important feature of the invention is found in the way that the panel is attached to the upper and lower essentially horizontal supports. Elongate hems are used for this purpose so that a strong connection is made without resorting to grommets, apertures and the like which have a tendency to pull out and tear over extended periods of use.

In addition, the structural supports at the top and bottom edges of the panel are well padded so that the force of the ball striking them is very materially attenuated upon impact should the golfer hit the ball in the immediate area'of the structural support.

The backstop is made of substantial but lightweight structural framing members which are preferably anchored to the turf to prevent the backstop from shifting as it is continually hit by the golfer during his practice session. Although the backstop may be adapted for indoor use, when used outdoors, the anchors, which are deemed unique, overcome an annoying problem of having the backstop creep, this problem being tolerated by the users of prior backstops and of course, not particularly appreciated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a backstop constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the backstop.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a detail of construction and taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a backstop which exemplifiesthe principles of the invention. The merit and benefit of practicing golf are very well known and need not be iterated. The backstop 10 provides an improved device functioning as a backstop for balls which are hit by any of the golf clubs owned or used by the golfer. The backstop is made of a s members 28 and 30, acute angles.

I 2,986,398 -..-Patented Mayf.30, 1.961

frame 12 having a pair of angulated rear frame members 14 and 16 with forwardly projecting horizontal portions 18 and 20 to which an upper support 22 is secured. The lower ends of the rear frame members 14 and 16 have bends 24 and 26 which define with the lower frame Transverse braces 32 and 34 are fixed, as by rivets or other fasteners, to frame members 14 and 16 and also to frame members 28 and 30.

Upper support 22 is identical to lower support 32, and the pair of supports constitute the sole means to retain the flexible panel 34 in a vertical plane or an approximately vertical plane. Flexible panel 34 is made of a very substantial material, for instance canvas or a syn'- thetic material such as nylon or an equivalent material.

The lower support 32 is made of a wooden strip 36 whose lower edge depends below the bottom surface of both lower frame members 28 and 30 to which it is joined. A longitudinal strip 40 of padding fits flush on the front face of strip 32 and is held in place by cementing and/or screws 42 or like fasteners. The screws have their heads passed through cutouts 44 in the lower part of panel 34 and penetrate plug 46 which is frictionally held inside of the bore of the hollow, tubular frame member 30. The connection between strip 36 and frame member 38 is identical to the connection shown in Figure 3 and described in detail. The same holds true for the connection between upper strip 22 and the horizontal parts 18 and 20 of rear frame members 14 and 16. The strips 22 and 32 are not only identical but they also have similar padding 40 thereon for the purpose mentioned previously.

A lower hem 50 is formed by folding the lower edge of panel 34 and connecting it by one or more rows of stitching 52 to form an elongate hem 50. The upper edge of panel 34 has an identical hem 56 however, it is fitted around the support 22 instead of support 32. The rows of stitching 52 preferably pass through padding strips 40 to either help hold the padding in place or form essentially the sole means of supporting the padding.

It is explicitly pointed out that there are no vertical supports extending between supports 22 and 32 thereby materially reducing the areas where rebounds at high speeds may create a problem. Further, flexible panel 34 being supported only above and below the major striking area thereof may be maintained rather loose so that impact shocks are attenuated by the nature of the support for panel 34.

Although the backstop is adaptable for indoor use, there is a considerable advantage in using the backstop outdoors with anchors 60. There is a number of these anchors each consisting of a U-shaped staple-like fastener which straddles the lower frame members 28 and 30 and which is driven a substantial distance into the ground. This holds the frame 12 very securely so that it will not creep during normal and abnormal use of the backstop 10.

If it is desired to assemble the backstop 10 or for any reason, to disassemble it, this is achieved very easily by simply removing the four screws 42 or by using the plugs 46 as pull-out plugs which are easily removed or replaced.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a golf practice backstop, the combination of a planar with the free front end of the lower portion, transverse braces extending between and securing said side members together, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal support bars secured to the free front ends of the respective lower and upper portions of said side members and projecting laterally beyond the side members, a

vertically disposed flexible panel, and hems provided at the upper and lower edges of said panel and having said support bars extending therethrough, side edges of said panel being spaced laterally outwardly from said side members and being entirely devoid of supporting means. is

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with strips 2,986,398 i a l.

4 of padding material provided said support bars.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper and lower portions of said side members are tubular and open at their free front ends, expansion plugs provided in the front end regions of said upper and lower portions, and fastening elements extending through said support bars into said expansion plugs whereby to frictionally r ai th same in s id ppe and lo er portions of the side members.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein the hemmed up r and lo e ed e of sa d pan are p vided with recesses having said fastening elements accessible therethrough.

in said heme forwardly of References Cited'in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Winkley Dec. 22, 1925 Ziel Feb. 17, 1959 

